ONE in five men will not live long enough to claim a state pension if the retirement age is raised to 70.

Ministers have hinted that the current age of 65 needs to be changed to cope with the estimated £130billion pension black hole.

But an Age Concern report warns that more than 20 per cent of men who are now aged 50 will die before they reach 70.

That means one in five men will work until they drop. The problem is worse for among the low-paid, particularly manual workers.

Builder Lawrence Rogers, 51, of Maidstone, Kent, said: "It's appalling. They may as well give us a coffin when we finish work if we have to go on until 70."

Men on high incomes can expect to live an average of five years longer than those paid the least. The Pensions Commission is due to report on the future of retirement payments at the end of the month. New Pensions Minister John Hutton will begin drawing up legislation on reform days after receiving the findings.

Age Concern spokesman Neil Churchill said: "There is a danger that raising the state pension age could worsen social inequalities."

Ministers are also keen to use any reform to help women who miss out on a full pension as they have taken time off to have children.